Hot-water heater



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UNITED STATES PHILI? E. YOUNG, OF FAIR/HAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

HOT-WATER HEATER.

Application led May 26,

The present invention relates to a mechanism to be combined with hot water heaters of the flash type which are heated by gas burners controlled by the pressure of the water in the heater. By the combination embodied in the pr-esent invention, a great saving in gas consumption is obtained.

For the purposes of illustration, I have shown my invention in combination with a form of hot water heater of the type ldescribed, which is now being sold commercially in this country. In the drawings which illustrate this example, Fig. 1 shows the hot water heater and attachments and shows the house connections diagrammatically; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the gas control mechanism.

The heater which is shown in Fig. l is designated by the numeral 10. It contains a coil of pipe 12 in which the water is to be heated by combustion of gas which passes into the heater by a pipe 14. A valve 15 controls the flow of the gas from a pipe 16, and it is understood that the usual forni of pilot light is provided which is supplied with gas by pipe 17. 1S is a cold water inlet and 20 is the hot water outlet which leads to faucets 22 in various parts of the house.

The valve 15 has a seat 24 and a movable member 26 mounted on a plunger 28. The plunger 28 is tensioned toward the open position by a spring 30 and carries two collars 32 and 34. A bell crank lever 36 contacts with collar 32 so thatl it can press the plunger 28 into closed position. The b ell crank lever 36 is moved by a rod 38 which is' normally held by spring 4() in such a position that the valve is closed. The spring 40 has suflicient power to overcome the tension of the spring 30. On the upper end of the rod 88 is a plunger 40 which is actuated by the water pressure in the chamber 42.

As is well known in the art, when any faucet 22 is opened, the pressure under plunger 40 drops and the water pressure above this plunger pushes it down, thereby moving bell crank lever 36 to permit spring 30 to open valve 15. Up to this point, I have described only the operation of parts which are well known in the art.

A second bell crank lever designated by the numeral 44 has a hooked end 46 which engages collar 34 and normally prevents valve 15 from opening, even when the water pressure drops. A lever 48 is adapted to co- 1926. Serial No. 111,899.

operate with bell crank lever 44 and move hook 46 out of engagement with collar 34. The upper end of lever'48 forms anarmature which is moved by a solenoid 50. The solenoid 50 is supplied with electrical energy from any source such as the battery 52. The circuit including the solenoid is normally open but can be closed by Vpressing any one of a series of electric buttons 54 which are located at convenient points adjacent the faucets 22. Y

In operating the device, a person using hot water, turns on a faucet 22 and presses a button 54, thereby releasing hook 46 from collar 34, permitting the valve 15 to open. Pressure on button 54 can then be immediately released and the electrical circuit opened. If only a small amount of water is to be used, onlya little gas will be needed to heat it, and therefore very shortly after the water has been turned on, the faucet 22 is turned off, thereby closing valve 15 and causing h ook 46 again to engage collar 34. Faucet 22 is immediately opened and the water will flow through the system, but the valve 15 will remain closed.

l find that with devices of this sort it is possible to heat what may be termed a section of water, which will move through the pipes. pushing the cold water in front of it, and in turn being pushed by cold water. By this arrangement it is only necessary to heat the amount of water desired. For example, if one desires to run a basin of hot water, the gas is turned on for only a few moments, so that the amount of water heated is not enough to fill the pipe all the way from the heater to the faucet. The cold water which will continue to come out of the faucet even after the gas has been turned off is allowed to escape, and as soon as the water becomes hot at the faucet 22, the plug is put in the basin and by the time the basin is filled, the water which had been heated will be used up, leaving the pipe full of cold water, as distinguished from the ordinary practice where the entire pipe is left full of hot water simply to supply one basin full of water at the faucet Of course, if a large quantity of water is to be used, the gas can be left turned on, even after hot water starts flowing from the pipe 22. VThen when almost as much hot water as is wanted has been drawn, the gas can be turned effin the manner described, and the balance of the hot water in the pipe drawn out for use.

It is tobe understood that the details shown are given by Way of illustration only and that they may be modified in many particulars Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

W'hat claim is:

l. In combination a. gas-fired hot Water heater, a gas valve, means for operating said valve comprising a Water pressure control mechanism, a latch adapted mechanically to prevent the gas valve from opening irrespective o the operation of said Water pressure control mechanism, a solenoid adapted to control said latch, a normally open electrical circuit including said solenoid, and circuit closing devices located at the service points for closing said circuit to move said latch.

2. A combination as specified in claim l, in which the latch when in normal position, Will prevent the valve from opening and in which the electrical circuit must be closed before the valve can open.

3. A combination as speeilied in claim l, in which the valve is under tension adapted to keep the valve open and the pressure necessary to close the valve is supplied by mechanism independent of said electrically controlled parts.

4;. ln a gas-fired hot Water heater, the Combination of a gas valve, means for opening and closing.,T said valve comprising a Water pressure control mechanism, electrically operated means distinguished from said water pressure control mechanism and controllable from remote points adapted to prevent said lirst-mentioned means from Opening said valve and a plurality of manually operated switches for controlling said electrically operated means.

PHILIP E. YOUNG. 

